Amchine for the manufacture of self-adhesive tabs



l... M. MUTTI April 20, 1954 MACHINE FOR THEMANUFACTURE OF SELF-ADHESIVETABS Filed Aug. 8, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 M ..W MW 1 1 u w a s M W R 3 AM M S j M, Ll L1H 5 9 2 a la O 7 T 3 -8 1 April 20, 1954 1. M. MUTTI 72,675,851

MACHINE FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF SELF-ADHESIVE TABS Y Filed Aug. 8, 1952 2Sheets- Sheet 2 Fig.4 V y Y. I {B Patented Apr. 20, 1954 MACHINE FOR THEMANUFACTURE OF SELF-ADHESIVE TABS Louis Marius Mutti, Montrouge, FranceApplication August 8, 1952, Serial No. 303,231 Claims priority,application France July 2, 1952 2 Claims. 1

Self-adhesive tabs for closing boxes and similar uses are presentlymanufactured by cutting a flexible self-adhesive band into sections,using scissors or equivalent means, so as to obtain sections of uniformsquare or rectangular shape.

The present invention has for its object the manufacture ofself-adhesive tabs, with or without gripping flaps, of any desiredshape, these tabs being adapted particularly for closing various boxesor packages, the self-adhesive tab being placed on the folds of the boxor of its envelope, or astride over the angle formed by the cover and anadjacent side of the box, or closin an aperture formed in one side ofthe box.

To this efiect, the invention has for its object a machine for themanufacture of self-adhesive tabs which is mainly characterised in thatit comprises in combination: an endless carrier band formed withregularly spaced apertures the shape of which corresponds to that of theselfadhesive tabs to be manufactured, means for intermittently advancingsaid carrier band, a support for a reel of self-adhesive band, means forguiding the self-adhesive band unwound from said reel into contact withsaid carrier band so that said self-adhesive band adheres to and isdrawn along by said carrier band, punching means comprising a die, apunch and punch actuating means, said die and said punch having asection corresponding to the shape of said apertures, said die beingplaced on one side of said carrier band and said self-adhesive bandadhering thereto and said punch being placed on the other side of saidcarrier band and said self-adhesive band adherin thereto, said means forintermittently advancing the carrier band and said punch actuating meansbeing coupled in such manner that at each stoppage of said carrier bandone of said apertures faces said punch, and said punch actuating meansactuates said punch during the halt of said carrier band.

When it is desired to manufacture self-adhesive tabs with grippingflaps, the machine further comprises a support for a reel of flexiblenon-adhesive tape, means for guiding said tape unwound from its reel insuch manner that said tape is laterally set off with respect to saidself-adhesive band and, engaged between said carrier band and saidself-adhesive band so as to adhere to the latter by part of its width,said apertures, said die and said punch being shaped and placed in suchmanner that said punch cuts through said self-adhesive band as well asthrough said nonadhesive tape and punches out a self-adhesive tabtogether with its gripping flap.

The self-adhesive tabs leaving the punching means can be gathered in anyconvenient manner.

However, according to another feature of the invention, the machine mayfurther comprise a support for a flexible band, a flexible band on saidlast-mentioned support, means for advancing said flexible band behindsaid die, in parallel direction with said carrier band, said means foradvancing the flexible band being synchronised with said means foradvancing the carrier band, and an anvil placed behind said flexibleband, in alinement with said die, so that the self-adhesive tabs punchedout by said punch and leaving said die are applied successively by saidpunch on said flexible band.

In another embodiment, the machine comprises an endless conveyor andmeans for advancing said conveyor intermittently, in synchronism withsaid carrier band, said conveyor being adapted to support a series ofboxes and to pass said boxes one by one under said die, so that theself-adhesive talbs punched out by said punch are successively appliedby said punch on said boxes.

The appended drawings show by way of example a first embodiment of themachine according to the invention, for the manufacture of self-adhesivetabs with gripping flaps, and a second embodiment in which theself-adhesive tabs are applied on boxes passing under the die of thepunching means.

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic vertical section of the first embodiment.

Fig. 2 is a partial view showing the respective positions of theself-adhesive band, the tape forming the gripping flaps and the carrierband.

Fig. 3 shows a portion of the receiving support on which the punched outtabs are applied.

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic vertical section of the second embodiment.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a box closed by the machine of Fig. 4.

On Fig. 1, the reference I designates the endless carrier band whichis'for example of metal. The intermittent advance of this band isobtained by means to be described later. The band I passes around twodrums 2 and 3, the drum 2 being rotated by its shaft 4 on which it iskeyed,

while the drum 3 rotates freely on its shaft 5. Preferably, in order toavoid skidding, the driving drum 2 is provided with two rows ofprojections 6 which engage corresponding holes I (Fig. 2) formed intheband I. The latter is formed with regularly spaced apertures 8 (Fig. 2)the shape of which corresponds to that of the selfadhesive tab C withgripping flap T to be obtained (see Fig. 3).

A band 9 unwound from a reel I carried by a shaft Illa passes around aroller I I which applies it against a rectilinear portion of the carrierband I.' The band 9 is provided at least on its side which is appliedagainst the carrier band I with a layer of permanent adhesive whichrenders said band 9 self-adhesive, so that the band 9 adheres to thecarrier band I and is drawn along by the latter. The band 9 may be ofany convenient material, such as paper, fabric, plastic, etc.

Between one edge of the self-adhesive band 9 and the endless band I isengaged by part of its width a tape I2 from which the gripping flaps Tare to be formed. The tape I2 is unwound from a reel I2a mounted on ashaft I2b and is set oif laterally with respect to the band 9, so thatthe tape, I2 adheres to the band 9 by part of its width, while theremainder of the tape I2 is left free.

Thus, the band 9, which is drawn along by the endless metal band I, inits turn draws along the tape I2. The latter may be of any convenientflexible material: paper, cardboard, fabric, etc.

On both sides of the whole formed by the bands I and 9 and the tape I2and at a point of their common rectilinear path are placed the twomembers of a punching device the shape of which corresponds to thecontour of the whole formed by the tab C and fiap T to be obtained, saidmembers being the die I3 and the punch I3 which face each other and alsoface one of the apertures 8 of the band I, at each stoppage of saidband. The apertures 8 are slightly greater than the cross section of thepunch I3 After having passed the punching device, the band 9 and thetape I2 pass around a roller I5 and are wound up together on a receivingreel It. In order to ensure that the upwinding is made regularly andwithout interference with the movement of the band and tape, the reel I6is rotated intermittently, in synchronism with the advance of thecarrier band I, and with a constant upwinding speed.

The machine may advantageously be provided with means for receiving thepunched out tabs C-T on a flexible support which is preferably aperturedand from which they are subsequently to be detached by the user.

The flexible receiving support is for example a band of tarlatan I1which is unwound from a reel I8 mounted on a shaft I8a, is led around aroller I9 and then advances in parallel direction to the band I, betweenthe die I3 and an anvil 29, whereafter the band I! passes between aroller 2I and a driving drum 22 which is rotated intermittently, insynchronism with the movement of the band I, the band I'I being finallywound up on a receiving reel 23 provided with driving means similar tothat previously mentioned in connection with the reel I6.

The intermittent movement of the endless band I and of the flexiblesupport I! as well as the synchronism of this movement with that of thepunch I3 may be obtained by any convenient means.

The stroke of the punch. I3 is determined in such manner that it cutsout the tab C with its flap T and applies them on the support I I whichleans against the anvil 29. The punch I3 is driven for example by aconnecting rod 24 actuated by an eccentric which is keyed on a shaft 26driven through equal toothed wheels 28 and 29 by a shaft 27 which isrotated by a motor. On the shaft 2'! is keyed a crank 30 which actuatesa Maltese cross 3I keyed on the shaft 32 which drives, preferablythrough sprocket wheels 33, 34 and a chain 35, the shaft 4 of the drum 2which drives the endless band I. On the other hand, the shaft 32 drives,also preferably through sprocket wheels 36, 31 and a chain 38, the shaft22a of the drum 22 which drives the flexible receiving support II.

Thus, at each stopping of the band I and of the support II, the punch I3cuts out of the band 9 and of the tape I2 a self-adhesive tab C togetherwith its gripping flap T and applies them upon the support II. Once thisoperation is finished, the band I and the support I! are again advancedand stop when another aperture 8 of the band I faces the punch I3 (Fig.2), the latter effecting another operation, and so forth. The remaindersof the band 9 and of the, tape I2, in which openings 39 and 40 have beencut out (Fig. 2), are wound up on the reel I6, while the flexiblesupport II, having the self-adhesive tabs C with their gripping flaps Tglued thereon in succession (Fig. 3), is Wound up on the reel 23.

Referring now to the second embodiment shown in Fig. 4, the reference Idesignates as before the endless carrier band driven by the drum 2 withprojections 6, the band I following here a rectangular path defined bythree other, freely rotating drums 3 3 and 3 The self-adhesive band. 9unwound from the reel I0 passes around two guide rollers II II before itis brought into contact with and adheres automatically to the carrierband I. In this embodiment, the band 9 is applied to the inner face ofthe carrier band I, on a rectilinear portion of its path.

The tape I2 from which the flaps T are to be cut out is unwound from thereel I2a and is engaged with a certain lateral displacement, as in thefirst embodiment, between the self-adhesive band 9 and the carrier bandI.

After having passed through the zone of operation of the punching meansI3 I3 the band 9 and the tape I2 pass on the drum 2, between theprojections 6 thereon, then on the roller I5, and are finally wound upon the reel I6.

The die I3 of the punching means is in this embodiment placed on theouter side of the carrier band I. The punch I3 is driven by a connectingrod 24 actuated by the eccentric crank pin 25 of the shaft 26 on whichthe toothed wheel 29 is keyed. The toothed wheel 29 meshes with thetoothed wheel 28 keyed on the motor shaft 21. The toothed wheel 28meshes also with a toothed wheel 4| which has the same diameter as thewheel 29 and is keyed on a shaft carrying the crank pin 39 whichactuates the Maltese cross 3 I. The latter is keyed on a shaft 32 whichdrives through sprocket wheels 33, 34 and a chain 35 or by any othersuitable transmission the shaft 4 of the drum 2 which drives the endlesscarrier band I.

On the shaft 4 is keyed a toothed wheel 43 which drives through othertoothed wheels 44, 45, 46 a shaft 41 carrying the driving drum 48 of anendless conveyor 49 the driving side of which is parallel to therectilinear portion of the path of the carrier band I passing throughthe punching means I3 I3 The movement of the conveyor 49 is thusintermittent and synchronous with that of the carrier band I. Theconveyor is adapted to carry a series of boxes B and to pass the sameone by one under the die I3 Each of the boxes B or their envelopespresents closing folds p (Fig. 5) and during the halt of each box underthe die It a self-adhesive tab with its gripping flap T is applied uponthe center of the folds 91, whereby the closure of the box or of itsenvelope is completed.

To this effect, the conveyor id is formed for example by a metal bandcarrying on its inner side projections 59 adapted to engage recesses 98aand 51a formed in the driving drum 4%- and in the freely rotating drum5! of the conveyor. The outer surface of the conveyor band it carriescross bars 52 between which the boxes B are placed. The conveyor couldhowever be constructed in any other convenient manner.

Obviously the boxes with folds may be replaced by boxes having anaperture to be closed by the self-adhesive tab C. On the other hand, inthe machine of Fig. 4 as well as in that of Fig. 1, thereel lZa can bedispensed with when it is desired to manufacture self-adhesive tabswithout gripping flaps. This is more convenient particularly when, as inthe case of Fig. 4, the tabs are applied directly upon the boxes to beprovided therewith.

It will be understood that the invention is not limited to theembodiments which have been described and shown and. covers allmodifications thereof which fall within the scope of the appendedclaims.

I claim:

1. A machine for the manufacture of self-adhesive tabs, comprising incombination: an endless carrier band formed with regularly spacedapertures the shape of which corresponds to that of the self-adhesivetabs to be manufactured, means for intermittently advancing said carrierband, means for guiding a self-adhesive band into contact with saidcarrier band so that said self-adhesive band adheres to and is drawnalong by said carrier band, punching means comprising a 6 die, a punchand punch actuating means, said die and said punch having a sectioncorresponding to the shape of said apertures, said die being placed onone side of said carrier band and said seif-adhesive band adheringthereto and said punch being placed on the other side or said carrierband and said self-adhesive band adhering thereto, said means forintermittently advancing the carrier band and said punch actuating meansbeing coupled in such manner that at each stoppage of said carrier bandone of said apertures faces said. punch, and said punch actuating meansactuates said punch during the halt of said carrier band.

2. A machine as claimed in claim 1, for the manufacture of self-adhesivetabs having each a gripping iiap, comprising a support for a reel offlexible non-adhesive tape, means for guiding said tape unwound from itsreel in such manner that said tape is laterally set off with respect tosaid self-adhesive band and engaged between said carrier band and saidself-adhesive band so as to adhere to the latter by part of its width,said apertures, said die and said punch being shaped and placed in suchmanner that said punch cuts through said self-adhesive band as well asthrough said non-adhesive tape and punches out a selfadhesive tabtogether with its gripping fiap.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 568,515 Buckingham et a1. Sept. 29, 1896 1,189,093 Gompf June2'7, 1916 1,986,611 Thomsen Jan. 1, 1935 2,157,555 Menschner May 9, 19392,286,159 Reynolds June 9, 1942 2,333,750 Tompkins Nov. 9, 19432,468,619 Franke Apr. 26, 1949 2,483,458 Fischer et a1 Oct. 4, 1949 2,41,281 Rowe Dec. 13, 1949

